End connector for printed circuits



Aug. 2, 1960 B. J. JOHANSON ET AL END CONNECTOR FOR PRINTED CIRCUITS Filed July 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ug- 2, 1960 B. J. JoHANsoN Erm. ,2,947,964

END CONNECTOR FOR PRINTED CIRCUITS Filed July 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nited States Patent "i END coNNncroR non rRrNrnn cnzcUrrs Bengt J. Johanson, Des Plaines, and William H. McKee, Park Ridge, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Boston, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Filed lIuly 19, 1955, Ser. No. 522,939

1 Claim. (Cl. 339-17) This invention relates to a connector arrangement for establishing electric connection between certain of the elements in printed wire circuits, and more especially to a connector strip assembly for printed wire circuits for making ready connection with the printed wires thereof.

Printed wire circuits are coming more and more into use, and to utilize printed circuit techniques to the greatest advantage a ready means is needed for connecting circuit elements to certain of the printed wires on the printed wire panels, and in many instances for interconnecting the printed wiresl of several panels. Heretofore, no completely satisfactory means has been available for providing ready connection to the printed wires on theA circuit panel.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a connector structure wherein quick and easy connection can be made with selected wires on printed wire circuit panels. Another object of the invention is to provide a connector structure that permits separate panels having printed wires thereon to be interconnetced, whether the panels are oriented in the same plane or are angularly oriented with respect to each other. Still another object is in the provision of a connector structure that permits electric conductors, printed wires and circuit components to be quickly and easily connected to the printed wires of printed wire circuit panels.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a connector strip that may have printed wires thereon, and which is equipped with a bank of connector members, electrically connected with printed wires on the connector strip or with other circuit elements, that are adapted to receive the section of a printed wire circuit panel in a simple insertion operation, and to make electric contact with the printed wires of such panel. Still a further object is in the provision of a connector strip and connector member assembly of the character described, having polarizing means which may be in the form of an offcenter guide that functions in combination with the panel of a printed wire circuit to accurately align and properly dispose the connector strip with respect to the panel, so that connection is made with the selected wires on the panel. A further object is in the provision of connector members having spring legs integrally connected at one end thereof by a web that functions as a stop to limit the insertion of a printed circuit panel therebetween, the spring legs functioning to resiliently grips the panel therebetween and establish electric connection with the printed wires thereon. Additional objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan View of a typical printed wire circuit panel having printed wires thereon; Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged broken bottom plan view of the structure illustrated in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line `4--4 of v.Figure 2; Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the 2,947,964 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 ice mounting connector illustrated in section in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a perspective view of one form of connector member embodying the invention; Figure 7 is a broken vertical sectional view showing the connector member of Figure 6 mounted in a connector strip and in connecting relation with a printed wire of the panel shown in Figure l; Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a top plan view showing a modified formof connector strip and connector member; Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken yalong the line 10--10 of Figure 9; Figure 1l is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a bottom plan view of the asembly illustrated in Figure 9; Figure 13 is a perspective view of the guide and polarizing elements illustrated in Figure 9; Figure 14 is a perspective View of one of the connector members illustrated in Figure 9; Figure 15 is a broken perspective view of the printed circuit panel shown in Figure 9; and Figure 16 is a perspective view of the connector strip illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure l illustrates a portion of a printed wire circuit that comprises a panel 10 formed of suitable insulating material, such as Bakelite, and having imprinted at least on one face thereof a plurality of wires 11. The wires 11 may be printed on the panel 10 by any of the techniques well known in the art. Adjacent oneend, the panel 10 is equipped with a lip or ange 12 that projects laterally from the body thereof, and has printed thereon a bank or row of terminal end portions 13 that are spaced from each other and are connected respectively to the various printed wires 11. The terminal ends 13 may be of any suitable width, and the particular width will lbe dependent upon the number of circuit elements or components to be connected with each. For example, one of the terminals ends, which is designated for purposes of identification by the numeral 13a, is several times as wide as the terminal ends 13, and is adapted to have a pair of connector members connected thereto in a manner that will be subsequently described.

As noted in Figure l, a definite change is noted between the printed wires 11 and the terminal ends 13 thereof. The diiferenceis that the terminal end portions are preferably uncoated copper, while the printed wires 11 are coated with solder lthat clings thereto in a dip soldering operation wherein the connector posts 14 are electrically connected to the respective printed wires. As is seen best in Figure 2, the connector posts 14 comprise a pair of spaced apart legs 15 and 16 that are joined together and form a cylindrical portion at the base end thereof. The base of the post is restricted, as is indicated at 17, so that it snugly ex- .tends through an appropriate openi-ng or aperture provided in the panel 10 and in a printed wire 11 carried thereon. The end portion of the collar 17 projecting through the panel 10 is rolled laterally to form an annular ange 18 that bears against the under side of the panel 10 and rmly anchors the post to the panel. A good electrical connection is provided between the post and the printed wire 11 by the solder build-up 19 that bridges between the post and the printed wire. The posts 14 may be employed in mounting circuit components on the panel 10 while establishing electric connection with the printed wires 11 thereof. Preferably, the legs 15 and 16 of the post are notched transversely, as is shown at 20, to facilitate the mounting and connection of a circuit component thereto, and preferably also, the legs are each recessed longitudinally, as is shown at 21, to define a generally arcuate passageway therebetween that, in some instances, is used to facilitate lthe mounting of a circuit component thereon.

It is desired to provide a means for connecting the terminal ends 13 of the printed wires 11 with the printed wires of other panelsor with other circuit elements and components. For this purpose, a connector member such as the member 22 illustrated in Figure 6 may be employed. The connector 22 is equipped with a pair of spring legs 23 and 24 that adjacent one end thereof are connected together by. an integral web 25 that .extends therebetween, At the forward ends the legs are turned outwardly, as is shown at 26, to define a mouth 27 therebetween. Projecting rearwardly of the web 25 are ears 28, one ear being provided by each of the legs 23. and 24. The legs are spring biased toward each other and are adapted to have the lip l2 of the panel 1b inserted therebetween, and are aiigna le with one of the terminal ends 13 of the printed wires il, as is seen mostly clearly in Figures 7 and 8. The connector 22 should be made of a material that is a good electric conductor and, at the same time, provides sufficient resilience so that the legs 23 and 24 firmly and resiliently grip the lip 12 and establish good electric connection with the terminal ends 13 of the printed wires. A material satisfactory for this purpose is brass or beryllium copper.

As shown in 'Figures 7 and 8, the ears 28 of the connector member are adapted to extend through openings provided in a connector or terminal strip 29 that may be another printed circuit panel having printed wires thereon, such as the wire 3th. The connector 22 is firmly secured to the panel or connector strip 29, and electrical connection is established between the printed wire 30 and connector by the solder globule 31. In the form shown in Figures 7 and 8, the ears 2S extend through the strip 29 at substantialiy right angles with respect thereto, but it will be appreciated that the ears 28 might be turned laterally to lie along the surface of the printed wire Sil, or they might simply be spread or bent laterally slightly to rnec'nanically anchor the connector in position with respect to the strip 29. it will be noted in Figures 7 and 8 that the web 25 is brought into abutment with the surface of the strip or panel 29, and thereby provides a positive means for accurately positioning the connector in the strip. Further, the web 25 functions as a stop to limit the extent of insertion of the lip 12 of the panel 10 into the socket defined between the legs 23 and 24 of the connector.

The mounting arrangement illustrated for the connector member 22 makes it particularly suited for use in connecting panels that are to be oriented at substantially right angles with respect to each other. It is clear particularly from Figure 7 that the lip i2 of the panel itl, and the strip 29, are substantially normal to each other and that the connector member 22 serves to electrically connect the terminal end 13 of a wire l1 with the printed wire 3i) carried by the strip 29.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 9 through 16, a panel 32 is provided having a plurality of printed wires 33 thereon that are oriented in substantially parallel, spaced apart relation. interposed ybetween certain of the printed wires 33 is a slot 34 that extends longitudinally along the wires and preferably is offset centrally with respcct to the panel 32. As is shown most clearly in Figure 15, the panel 32 is equipped with three printed wires 33 on one side of the slot 34- and two printed wires on the other side thereof.

The connector strip or terminal strip 35 which is shown best in Figure 16, has substantially the same length as the panel 32, and along the longitudinal edges thereof is provided with paired notches or recesses 36. One recess 36 along one longitudinal edge of the terminal strip is aligned with a recess 36 along the opposite longitudinal edge thereof, and thereby the two aligned recesses provide a pair of recesses.

The connector member used in conjunction with the terminal strip or connector strip 35 is shown most clearly in Figures and 14 and is designated generally with the numeral 37. The connector 37 comprises a pair of spring legs 38 and 39, one of which is turned outwardly at its forward end, as shown at 4d, to define with the other leg a mouth 41. The legs 38 and 39 are joined together adjacent the base end thereof by an integral web 42 equipped with an outwardly projecting lug 43 having an elongated slot 44 therein. The ear 43 and slot i4 thereof may be used in connecting circuit components such as resistors, capacitors and wire conductors to the connector. It will be appreciated that if the connector member 37 is to have a printed wire connected directly thereto, and there is no need for having other circuit elements connected to it, the lug 43 may be eliminated.

The leg 39 is substantially at and at the end thereof is equipped with depending ears 4.5 and 46 that are alignable with and adapted to be received within the paired recesses of the terminal strip 35, ias is seen in Figure l0. The ears 45 and i6 when in position within the recesses 36 may be turned laterally Kto bear firmly against the underside of the strip 35 to firmly anchor the connector member to the strip. It will be apparent that the strip 35 may be another panel having printed wires thereon, and in such case the printed wires will be connected electrically to the connector members 37. This may be accomplished in a dip soldering operation, with a result similar to that shown in IFigures 7 and 8 wherein the connector members 22 are electrically connected to printed wires 39 carried by the terminal strip 29. As is appar-` ent from an inspection of Figures 9, 1l and l2, a bank of connector members 37 is carried by the strip 35, and each connector member is -alignable with one of the printed wires 33 carried by the panel 32. The panel 32 is insertable through the mouths 41 provided by each of the connector members between the spring legs thereof, and the extent of insertion is limited by the web Ll2 which provides a stop that is abutted by the leading edge of the panel. The connector members 37 perform the same function as the connector members 22 heretofore described, and the spring legs are adapted to resiliently grip a panel inserted therebetween while at least one of the legs establishes electric connection with the printed wire carried by the panel.

Preferably, guide channels are provided for accurately aligning the strip 35 with respect to the panel 32, so that the connector members 37 engage the printed wires 33, as is shown in Figure 9. The guide channels as well as serving the function of aligning the strip 35 and panel 32 when these members are brought together, `also serve to stabilize and prevent lateral shifting of the strip 3S with respect to the panel 32 after the jointure thereof'. The guide channels are shown best in Figures 9, 1l and 13 and are designated with the numeral 47. The channel 47 has a base leg 43 equipped with depending ears 49 adapted to be received within a pair of recesses 36 provided by the strip `35. The ears 49 may be turned under or laterally to bear against Vthe underside of the strip 35 to lock the channel members in place. Extending upwardly from the leg 4S is `a guide wall Si? equipped with an inwardly turned, overhanging flange S1. that extends over the strip 35 and panel 32, as is seen in Figure 1l.

Used either in conjunction with the channels 47, as is shown in Figures 9, l1 and 12, or in place thereof, is a guide member or polarizing member 52 that may be identical in construction to that of the guide channels 47. The polarizing guide 52 is adapted to be aligned with the slot 34 in the panel 32; and since that slot is offset from the center of the panel and, of necessity then, the polarizing guide 52 is offset from the center of the strip 35, the member 52 not only serves to automatically align each of the connector members V37 with one of the printe/d wires 33, but also permits the strip and panel to be brought together in only one manner. That is to say,

the polarizing guide can be inserted into the slot 34 only when the strip and panel are aligned in a predetermined relation, with the result that there is no possibility of securing the connector members 37 to incorrect printed wires 33. The polarizing guide, then, performs an important function in simplifying assembly of the structures.

It will be noted that the connector members 22 and 37,

and also the guide channels 47 and polarizing 4guide 52, are formed respectively from unitary blanks and are stamped in the configurations shown from relatively large sheets of material and are bent into the desired shapes, preferably as part of the same operation. As has been brought out before, the connector strips may or may not be equipped with printed wires, and the connector members will be connected to printed wires if they are provided by the strips or to other circuit elements or to both, as the case may be, depending upon the particular circuit environments in which the connector members are ernployed.

In use of the connector members, the members are simply aligned with the printed wires on a panel to which they are to be connected, and the panel is inserted through the mouths of the connector members into the sockets dened between the spring legs thereof. Each connector member will establish an electric connection with one of the printed wires, and will resiliently grip the panel land wire that it is connected to. The webs that are formed integrally with the spring legs serve to stabilize and form a more stable mounting of the connector members on the connector strips, and also function as a positive stop to limit the extent of insertion of a panel into the socket between the spring legs of the connectors. Where polarizing guides are employed, assembly is simplitied and correct assembly assured because of the polarizing guide forms a positive means of aligning the connector members with the appropriate printed wires that have been preselected for connection therewith.

While in the foregoing specification embodiments of the invention have been described in substantial detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure of the various embodiments of the invention in an environmental setting, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the -art may make numerous changes in such details without departing from the spirit and principles of the invention.

We claim:

In combination with an insulating panel carrying flat conductors extending adjacent an edge thereof, an insulating strip having a row of contact members, each contact member having a pair of opposed legs of greater width than thickness, said legs having broad surfaces in facing relation and narrow side edges, said legs being open at one end of ysaid contact member yand said legs of said respective contact members -being in lateral alignment to engage therebetween said edge of said panel, each of said contact members having an integral web extending between said legs, said web being joined to said side edges of said legs on one side only of said legs and spaced from said open end thereof, said webs operating to limit movement of said panel between said pairs of legs, one leg of each of said pairs being rigid and having attaching portions extending in angular relation thereto, said attaching portions being in engagement with said strip for securing said contact members thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,536,149 Schmid May 5, 1925 1,553,952 Nero Sept. 15, 1925 1,718,529 Coldwell June 25, 1929 2,586,854 Myers Feb. 26, 1952 2,641,747 Johanson June 9, 1953 2,701,346 Powell Feb. 1, 1955 2,71f1,523 Willis June 21, 1955 2,765,450 Richardson Oct. 2, 1956 2,853,689 Jackson et al Sept. 23, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 719,657 Great Britain Dec. 8, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES U.SJC. Electronic Equipment, July 19.54, page 2. 

